Monodisperse α-Fe2O3 Mesoporous Microspheres: One-Step NaCl-Assisted Microwave-Solvothermal Preparation, Size Control and Photocatalytic Property

A simple one-step NaCl-assisted microwave-solvothermal method has been developed for the preparation of monodisperse α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres. In this approach, Fe(NO3)3 · 9H2O is used as the iron source, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) acts as a surfactant in the presence of NaCl in mixed solvents of H2O and ethanol. Under the present experimental conditions, monodisperse α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres can form via oriented attachment of α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals. One of the advantages of this method is that the size of α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres can be adjusted in the range from ca. 170 to ca. 260 nm by changing the experimental parameters. High photocatalytic activities in the degradation of salicylic acid are observed for α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres with different specific surface areas

α-thalassaemia

Alpha-thalassaemia is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by a microcytic hypochromic anaemia, and a clinical phenotype varying from almost asymptomatic to a lethal haemolytic anaemia

Synthesis, characterization and application of Ru(BINAP)(Acac)(MNAA)(MeOH), a highly effective catalyst for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(6'-methoxynaphth-2'-yl)acrylic acid

Ru(S-BINAP)(Acac)(MNAA)(MeOH) (1) (where MNAA (2) = 2-(6′-methoxynaphth-2′-yl)acrylate anion), a highly effective catalyst for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(6′-methoxynaphth-2′-yl)acrylic acid (3), was isolated from a dichloromethane/methanol (vol./vol. = 1/4) solution of Ru(S-BINAP)(Acac)2 and excess of 2-(6′-methoxynaphth-2′-yl)acrylic acid after the solution was exposed to visible light for 2 weeks. On side by side comparison studies, the rate of the hydrogenation of 3 catalyzed by 1 was found to be substantially faster than the same reaction catalyzed by Ru(S-BINAP)(OAc)2. The molecular structure of 1 was unambiguously characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technolog

The quest to slow ageing through drug discovery

Although death is inevitable, individuals have long sought to alter the course of the ageing process. Indeed, ageing has proved to be modifiable; by intervening in biological systems, such as nutrient sensing, cellular senescence, the systemic environment and the gut microbiome, phenotypes of ageing can be slowed sufficiently to mitigate age-related functional decline. These interventions can also delay the onset of many disabling, chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration, in animal models. Here, we examine the most promising interventions to slow ageing and group them into two tiers based on the robustness of the preclinical, and some clinical, results, in which the top tier includes rapamycin, senolytics, metformin, acarbose, spermidine, NAD+ enhancers and lithium. We then focus on the potential of the interventions and the feasibility of conducting clinical trials with these agents, with the overall aim of maintaining health for longer before the end of life